IEHA release

Westerville, OH—The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA), the world''s leading professional housekeeping organization, will conduct a pilot with a cross-section of its members (both in-house and outsource cleaning operations) who support the current Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval (SOA) Service Provider program and wish to evaluate carpet-cleaning instruction and knowledge assessment as an enhancement to the current SOA Service Provider criteria.

IEHA will select members from various facility segments, including healthcare, hospitality, educational institutions, and unique venues such as casinos, to become educated in CRI-recommended carpet cleaning methods.

“This proposed program of instruction in carpet cleaning ''best practices'' is intended to augment the current SOA Service Provider program which now only requires that providers use CRI-approved products and equipment, while not providing or assessing ''how-to'' or procedural knowledge,” says Beth Risinger, CEO/Executive Director of IEHA. “That is what makes this pilot program so exciting to our members—it enables them to begin taking steps to become experts in carpet care by learning about and becoming proficient in using the right methods as well as products under the guidance of CRI and Shaw.”

Shaw Industries Group, Inc., the world''s largest carpet manufacturer, will provide IEHA access to its online Maintenance and Cleaning (MAC) Learning Management System (LMS) including both Management Level Training and Technician Training along with follow up testing. The MAC program will provide IEHA members knowledge and assessment in these carpet care areas:

• Why Clean and Maintain

• Preventive Maintenance

• Reactive Maintenance

• Daily Maintenance

• Interim Maintenance

• Extraction/Deep Cleaning

“The CRI Seal of Approval program identifies effective carpet cleaning solutions and equipment that clean carpet right the first time and protect a facility’s carpet investment,” says Werner Braun, President of CRI. “The proposed enhanced program with IEHA would benefit facility managers and other cleaning professionals by providing knowledge of proven cleaning methods and practices. If successful, it has the potential to help further transform carpet care in housekeeping operations across the country.”

IEHA has initially selected 12 IEHA-related facilities to participate in the SOA training program, and will be sharing updates on the pilot program once launched in June 2009.